Figures please NRL

2.569 Million Australians tuned in through the Nine Network across the capital cities of Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne with the Grand Final delivering Channel Nine the most watched programme of the year in Sydney and Brisbane.

Sydney?s average of 1.186million viewers (peak of 1.267million) was the highest since night time Grand Finals were introduced in 2001 and may well be the highest ever.

Nine?s staggering 60% audience share in Sydney is one of the strongest programming results recorded for any event in the Sydney market. Sydney?s figure was up 140,000 on last year.

Brisbane also delivered an incredibly strong result with an average of 778,370 (peak of 824,000), which was up by more than 160,000 on 2004.

Melbourne too produced an incredible result with the match winning every quarter hour to finish with an average of 514,000 (peak 587,000) an increase of 120,000 viewers on 2004.

All of these figures are yet to take into account the audience of North Queensland through WIN Television where the audience share could be as high as 100%.

The regional figures will be confirmed tomorrow but could add another 1.5million viewers to the national total.

?It?s a great way to finish a memorable Telstra Premiership season and I congratulate the Nine Network,? NRL Chief Executive, Mr David Gallop, said.

?There is still a Test Series around the corner with Australia playing New Zealand at Telstra Stadium on Friday week.

?But fans players, clubs and broadcasting partners through the Nine Network and through Fox Sports/Foxtel are entitled to take this moment to give themselves a pat on the back for a great Telstra premiership year.?